Best Durian Farms in Penang
Penang is famous for its durians. Though other states may dispute it, many people love the durians from Penang. It seems that the soil especially on the west side of the island is most ideal for durian cultivation, and hence through proper care, the estates in places such as Balik Pulau, Pantai Aceh and Teluk Bahang produce some of the best durians in Malaysia. Durian lovers know their durians not only by taste, but even by the tree. They are able to tell you the name of the tree according to the taste and texture.
The map on this page shows the location of, in my own personal opinion, the best durian farms in Penang. It is always wise to give them a call before going. Find out beforehand how is the season, what type of durian is available, the pricing, and so on, before you go. If you drop in unannounced, the farms might not be able to provide you any durians if they have already allocated their stock of the day to planned visits from other people. A sizable number of people in a group, perhaps ten or more, will allow you to try more variety of durians.
I have written extensively about Penang durians. Read also my write-up about Penang Durians in AsiaExplorers.
Penang is famous throughout Malaysia for durians. The most famous of Penang durians are those coming from the hills on the western side of Penang Island, from Gertak Sanggul to the south, through Balik Pulau, to Pantai Aceh and Teluk Bahang to the north. Collectively, these country durians are called Balik Pulau Durians. The terrain, drainage and rainfall around this part of Penang Island makes it ideal for producing the finest quality durians.
AsiaExplorers Durian Feast
The AsiaExplorers Durian Feast is one of the most famous in the country. Held since 2004, it draws participation from all over Malaysia - people from Australia and further away even plan their visit to Malaysia to coincide with the Durian Feast. The advantage of enjoying durians during a durian feast cannot be compared to simply visiting a farm. You not also get to enjoy a wider selection of durians, you are also taught how to recognise and select good durians. To ensure that all the participants get to try as many durians as possible, I limit the number of participants per session. You need to book as soon as announcement comes out. As these durian feasts are arranged weeks in advance, I cannot guarantee whether the feast will fall during a dry or rainy spell. There is a few feasts organized in each season, because the different durians drop during the different parts of the season - some at the beginning, some at the middle, and some at the tail end of the season. By participating in more than one durian feast, you will have the opportunity of tasting a wider variety of durians. Find out about the 2008 AsiaExplorers Durian Feast right here.
Organizing Your Own Durian Feast
If you are considering organizing your own durian feasts, you should do so between May and July, depending on the durian season of the year. Find out from the durian farm when is their best season - different farm has a different date according to their trees. Although it may be out of your control, avoid planning a visit if there has been many days of rain.
Durian-related Links
Durians
Durian Farms
Bao Sheng Durian Farm
2008 Durian Feast
28 June 2008 Durian Feast Report
Durians By Name
Bao Sheng Durian Farm
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